When a walk in the woods provides a great lesson

I stay in Goregaon, a part of the western suburbs situated just a few kilometers away from Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) aka Borivali National Park. On Sundays, the park seems, even more close, considering there is no traffic on the road (which many Mumbaikars will endorse). But in spite of the small distance, I hate to admit that I have been to the National Park only once before. It is supposed to be the largest park in the world located within city limits and truly a place to be visited many times over. But this Sunday was just my second visit to these sylvan surroundings so far in my life. Such a shame!
“A beautiful walk through the Shilonda Trail” inside the National Park was what the e-brochure of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) enticed me with its foliage of words.

And so here I was, on a chilly morning in January, ready to bathe in the serenity of the green expanse and soak in the knowledge, the birds and the bees (pun unintended) had to offer. The brochure had mentioned that the trail will be about 15 minutes walk from the main gate of the National Park, and so it was. Typically, this trail is out of bounds for regular visitors unless they have permission. It's accessible only through naturist clubs like the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and NIC etc. And that's precisely what excited me even more. I prefer quieter locations such as these where one can enjoy nature at peace, away from the din of the picnickers and the clamor of the motley crowd. It can be so unbelievably peaceful that it's difficult to believe that it is the same noisy Mumbai just a few hundred meters away.
The trail itself runs for about 2 km into the jungle up to a stream. The dense growth of deciduous trees mixed with the bamboo groves provides an elusive tranquil all through the walk in the woods.  The vast variety of birds, insects, butterflies add their beauty to this visual treat and provide a welcome respite. For any Mumbaikar this is truly the right place to relax, find solace and their true self. Neither a biologist, ornithologist nor an entomologist I am but a Sunday ensconced in the lap of mother nature was just the kind of getaway my frayed nerves were seeking.

There was a myriad of tidbits we heard all through this trail. But there was one fascinating fact, Mr. Jagdish Vakale, Naturalist at NIC and our guide recounted to the group that stayed with me.

He told us the intriguing fact about a bird and colony of ants. The ants are popularly called as soldier ants and crematogaster by the entomologists. They use dry leaves, their saliva, and mud to build a robust nest for its colony. This nest resembles a Pagoda and hence it gets its name as Pagoda Ants nest. This nest is almost impregnable to any species as these ants are known to be fierce and of attacking nature. Also, the nest is as hard as a cardboard. However, there is one bird in spite of these challenges considers this nest as its home too and stays inside it along with the entire colony of ants. The bird is known as Rufus Woodpecker. This bird secretes a chemical, pheromone. And this is the same pheromone that the soldier ants also secrete and makes them think that the bird is part of its family. So, in spite of Rufus Woodpecker not being an ant or an insect but an entirely different species, the soldier ant allows it to stay in its well-built nest.
Rufus Woodpecker on the other hand just does not just stay there like a ghar jamai (live-in son-in-law) who hoards for free but it, in turn, provides food to the ants. All the tidbits and insects it collects and hunts for its family does not get consumed entirely. The babies eat a little and litter the nest with crumbs. This leftover food is then eaten by the soldier ants. Thus, saving the ants the energy to go out and hunt for food.


An incredible example of giving and receiving between entirely different species at work here. It shows how two different types, completely unlike each other, by helping one another in a symbiotic relationship can live together peacefully and graciously.

For me it's a beautiful lesson which nature has provided! We as humans and considered as the most evolved species on the face of the earth, can take a big leaf out of the Pagoda Ant's nest. 

I am sure there will always be differences and contrasts between each of us human beings, in the way we think, live, eat, drink, communicate, behave and function. Our culture, perspectives, experiences, memories, etc. sum up who we become as a person. That being said, it's up to us to find out how we can use these differences to learn from one another, accept the differences, respect each other, give and take and live in harmony and peace. At the end, what makes us different from the other species is how we manage relationships with each other and keep them healthy and strong in order to have a happy and productive life.